PDA & SD Card question

[T1tan]

G'day,

I recently bought a PDA off Baker - the iPaq 4700 - and I'm very happy with it.

Anyway, the product spec's say that it can hold up to a 4gb Compact Flash and a 1gb SD card.

My question is, is this truely a hard limit for the size of the SD Card we can use? SD cards are a lot cheaper than compact flash. It has windows mobile 5 installed if that matters. I don't have a bigger SD card to try out :S


http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/au/en...reg_R1002_AUEN

[bYrd]

The manufacturer is probably taking it "easy"; and 1GB SD cards were probably all that was available at the time the manual was made.

Go for it - 4GB CF should be fine.

JB

[Snoops]

Keep in mind SD cards over 2gig are a different "standard".(Though same size). Uses a different memory addressing system. E.g they will not work in a device which does not support them.

[sanjay]

Originally Posted by Snoops

Keep in mind SD cards over 2gig are a different "standard".(Though same size). Uses a different memory addressing system. E.g they will not work in a device which does not support them.

indeed, my 4gb SD card works fine in my ixus 750 and my HP printer's card slot but not my 3.5" internal one.

[bYrd]

Originally Posted by Snoops

Keep in mind SD cards over 2gig are a different "standard".(Though same size). Uses a different memory addressing system. E.g they will not work in a device which does not support them.

Yes that's true, but it seems very hit and miss and I thought it was more with SD cards > 2GB, not CF > 2GB. Seems about 50% 4GB SD cards work in PDAs.

Still, 2GB is enough, especially when you can get them from MSY for $27 Although they're usually out of bloody stock

JB

[T1tan]

you reckon it would be possible to try out a 4gb chip before buying, at the store? o_O

I guess it depends on the store, and I'm really asking, is a packaged chip easy to repackage?

I'm browsing the net now for "ipaq 4700 largest SD Card" :S not to helpful.

[bYrd]

Most of the memory cards I've bought have been installed in very well sealed packs that you need to cut open with scissors, so I doubt you'll be able to try instore.

Come on mate you musn't have look too hard

http://www.expansys.com/ft.aspx?i=114237&thread=128

... looks like a Transcend 4GB should be OK.

JB

[T1tan]

erg

i was searching that forum for 'SD', not '4gb'

sillybuggers

Cheers though!

edit: I'm actually looking for SD cards that are 2+ gb they are cheap and I'll be buying CF cards if I can't use SD's.

edit2: just read on that thread 2gb sd card.

Cheers again

[T1tan]

Question 2:

Does the brand of SD card really matter? Ie. Is it really worth getting sandisk over generic?

[sanjay]

Originally Posted by T1tan

Question 2:

Does the brand of SD card really matter? Ie. Is it really worth getting sandisk over generic?

in my experience, no.

people batter on about read times and reliability but hear this:

had a generic 4gb card in my ixus 750, when i went to china last year my dad and i took over 3000 shots. still have every single one to this day. never once gave a read or write error, never once came up as unrecognised in the camera. more than i can say of lexar sd cards of old

[th3_hawk]

Originally Posted by T1tan

Question 2:

Does the brand of SD card really matter? Ie. Is it really worth getting sandisk over generic?

Probably not.

Brand names tend to have a higher read/write speed, but this is only useful when transferring large (or lots of) files. So in a digital camera it will usually make a rats arse of difference in day to day photo taking but will help when taking the photos off the memory card.

For a PDA, dumping MP3's, Videos etc could be faster if the card is faster... assuming you have a USB card reader that supports a card > 2GB (I have three or four that don't).

Back in reality the time difference on most cards it going to be stuff all, so generic will most likely be fine, especially if it's a 40x + rated card...

I would suggest you check the price difference between mini/micro SD (with an adaptor) and SD. Only from the point of view that more and more devices are using the new formats which *may* give you a longer future with your new card... mind you at $30 - $40 a card it's not like it will break the bank to have to buy a new card when (and if) you get a new device.